Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-03
FRANCE AND B~OULANGER /.

Either General Boulanger is one of the
most skillful and unblushing OF crafty
hypocrites or he is the most abused man in
France. On the surface his conduct has
been manly and patriotic to such an extent
as to challenge the admiration of the world.
His acts have thus far been consistent with
his u~tterances, and the latter have ex-
pressed only deep devotion to Republican
France. His position is a peculiar and
trying one. A native ability and a self.
assertive manhood forced him to the n ont
at a time when the national pride Of his
countrymen was at it's height, and his in
~stipctive patriotism caught the inspiration
and caused him to add the power of his
will to the anti. German movement. He
did nothing that laid his conduct open to
suspicion on the part of Republican France,
but his acts a~ntagonized all OF Europe and
he fell a victim to the diplomacy of the
hour which is exhausting it's ingenuity in
trying to defy fate and defeat the ~inevita-
BILE. That war is imminent and will soon
surely come Boulanger knew, and his am
bition, the ambition Of every Frenchman,
was to reverse Sedan. The Government
had not his ability nor his courage, and in
trying to ~temporize with the other powers
it aroused the half-lghted fires OF hatred
in the bosoms OF the French people. A
sacrifice was demanded. and Boulanger
laid himself upon the altar. He accepted
the apparent disgrace that was offered
him, and leaving the leading position in
the councils of his Government, he donned
his uniform and sought his regiment. He
preached tho gospel of peace but insisted
that France should be prepared for war. I
The nation seconded his PROPOSE
ton from the our quarters
OF the Republic popular approval
and popular clamor followed him to his
lamp. He was, and is, the idol OF the
hour. His influence must be co~unteracted,
and there was but one way to do it. The
grave must be robbed, and the terrors of
the monarchy brought forth to damn the
gallant soldier. Forthwith he is accused OF
conspiracy to repeat the scenes OF the Sec
ond empire. From the midst of his asso-
ciates spring a score of men, who declare |
that they approached him with an offer OF
dictatorship, and it was refused with
scorn. Then he is accused OF coquetting |
with the O~rleanists, but his d~ignified silence |
gives the lie to the proposition. Now
comes a statement that he is forming an
alliance with Russia, and that Germany
shall be made the victim OF the joint VEN
geauce OF France and Russia. He still
commands his regiment. and SUI
fers without q murmur. Events
are %crowding, but Boulanger still holds his
peace. 1t is possible that he is an intrigu-
ant, and is seeking to betray his country. |
France has never lacked for men whose
genius to destroy was as brilliant as to
build up. Boulanger is seemingly of that
class. How will he utilize his power? We
hope and believe that it will be for the
good of France as a Republic. He is to-
day a tower OF strength to his country,
and if his immediate past be a guarantee
for the future, he will yet cut a figure in
which he will add to the lustre of his coun-
try and carve a name among the great ones
of the earth,